maruta　丸太

KEY WORD :　architecture / general terms

A log or pole. Some scholars believe that this term replaced maruhada 丸肌 (log skin). A generic term for log usually a log stripped of outer bark with the knots or nodules left intact. A log is classified by its diameter: 30cm or more is large, between 20-30cm, medium, and a log less than 20cm is small. Generally, cedar logs with branches, nagamaruta 長丸太, over 6 in diameter are used as scaffolding. Logs used in tea ceremony rooms *chashitsu 茶室, or in *sukiya-zukuri 数寄屋造 buildings, are ornamental timbers and often polished. Sometimes logs with bark, araki 荒木, are used. Small logs, komaruta 小丸太, or even single branches, may be employed as rafters *taruki 垂木 or ceiling battens *saobuchi 竿縁. Logs are often identified by the place where they are felled. For example, yoshino maruta 吉野丸太 or kitayama maruta 北山丸太. The term maruta, during the Edo period at Mt. Kiso 木曽, referred to logs of any species over 16cm in diameter. Logs approximately 270cm long and less than 13cm in diameter were called yarai maruta 矢来丸太.

REFERENCES:

EXTERNAL LINKS:

NOTES:

(C)2001 Japanese Architecture and Art Net Users System.　No reproduction or republication without written permission. 掲載のテキスト・写真・イラストなど、全てのコンテンツの無断複製・転載を禁じます。